Automobile-axle-securing means.



'E. l. CUSTER. v

AUTOMOBILE AXLE SECURING MEANS. I APPLICATION H-LED. SEPT- 2!. 1914 RENEWED MAY I4. I918.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Z-SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. l. CUSTER.

AUTOMOBILE AXLE SECURING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED $29121. 1914. RENEWED MAY 14. 1918.

1,288,527 I Patented Dec.24,19 18' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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i EUGENE I. CUSTER, OF PLAINVIEN. NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-FIFTI -IS TO ARTHUR 1 JENSEN, OF RQDNEY, IOWA.

AUTGMQBILE-AXLE-SECURING Application filed September 21, 191%, Serial No. 862,698. Renewed May 14, 1918.

TOWN/(0710770 it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE I. Cos'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at;

Plainview. in the county oi Pierce and State of'Nebraslra, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvenn'nts in Automobile-Axle Securing Means, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in 0 means for securing the front axle of an automobile, preferably the Ford automobile, to theframe of the same. I An important object of the invention is to "provide means of the above mentioned charactor, which will take up excessive strains ordinarily transmitted to the angularly ar ranged radius rods connected with the front axle of the Ford automobile preventing the "same from becoming damagci'l; hold the vfront aXl against displacement such as turning upon its longitudinal axis; and absorb excessive shocks before the same are transmitted to the frame of the automobile withoutinteriering with the usual operation of the springs in absorbing \ertical vibrations and the like.

A further object of th inventionis to provide means of the al me mentioned character, embodying a yieldable member, with means to regulate the tension of the same.

A further object 01' the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned charm-- ter, which are simple in construction, inevpensive to manufactu e, and convenient use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings formin a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of a por- 'tion of the frame of a F rd automobile,

showing my invent ion applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a detail sect ion tl'irough the front axle, associated element being; shown in ele vation,

Fig. 4 is a central loz'igiudinal sectional view through pivot means included in the invention, and,

Fig. 5 is a tragn'i ntai v plan view, partly Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2.4 12918.

Serial No. 234,535.

in section, of one of the reinforcing radiusrods, included in the invention.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment. of my invention, the numeral 10 desigspring 13 has connection with an inwardly extending head ll, rigidly connected with a vertical bolt 15, passing through. a vertical opening 16, formed in the front axle 12. near the end thereof. The vertical bolts 15 are provided in their upper ends, at the top of or above the front axle with horizontal openings 17, receiving the reduced ends of angula.rl arranged radius-rods 18, which are clamped therein by neans of nuts 19 or the like. The radius-rods 18 converge inwardly and are provided with a ball 20. preferably formed integral therewith, mounted to turn within a socket 21, rigidly attached to the crank case 2;. The above description represents generally the ordinary constructitm of the Ford automobile.

lily improvement orintention comprises preferably tubular reinforcingradius-rods provided at their forward ends with flat apertured heads 24irigidly secured thereto and receiving the lower ends of the vertical bolts 15, and clamped thereto by nuts or or the like.

The reinforcing radius-rods 28 converge inwardly slightly, but their inner ends are arranged outwardly oi the inner ends of the radius-rods 18, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Each of the reinforcing radius-rods 23 is longitudinally adjustable or extensible, and the same has its inner end internally screw threaded for engaging with the screwthreaded end of an extension or red 25, as shown. The extension 25 carries a lock nut 26, serving to positively hold the extension 25 against improper rotation. Jlftits inner end, th y extension 25 is provided with a hall or spherical head 27, as shown.

Arranged below each. of the leigitadinal beams 10 is a housing or casting rigidly secured thereto by means of bolts 29 or the outer screw-threaded portion of the opening 30 as shown.

lnoperation, my reinforcing radius-rods 23 serve to oppose the" turning movement of the front axle upon its longitudinal axis,

"cu t and dangerous to steer.

thus takingexcessive strain off of the main radius rods 18. As is well known, such turnin 'movement renders the automobile difli- By having apivotal or universal connection with the frame, the reinforcing radius-rods 23 are cagable of swinging in a vertical plane, wherey they do not interfere with the operation of the spring 13, in absorbing vertical shocks. The springs 33 serve to yieldingly oppose the longitudinal movement of the reinforcing radius-rods 23, thus protecting the same againstexcessive shocks or strains. The ten sion of the springs 33 may be regulated by turning or adjusting the plug 34, as is obvious.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and ,described is to be taken as a'preferred'example of the same,

'and that various changes in the shape, size,

and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim The combination with the front axle of an automobile provided near its ends with substantially vertical openings, of vertical bolts extending through the openings, forwardly diverging radius rods having their forward ends secured to the tops of the bolts, means connecting the inner ends of the radius rods with the frame of the automobile, forwardly diverging auxiliary radius rods having their forward ends connected with the lower ends of the bolts and their rear ends spaced latertubular body portion and an extension rod having screw-threaded engagement within the tubular body portion to be longitudinally adjustable and provided at its free end with a spherically curved head, a housing attached to the frame of the automobile and having-a main opening to receive the extension rod and a reduced opening for the reception of the, head thereof, a reciprocatory member arranged within the reduced opening, and a, spring to oppose the moven'ient'fpf the reciprocatory membeia.

I/ In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 'in presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE I. CUSTER.

Witnesses:

W. L. More, Ross A. Mom. 

